For the first time this postseason, the Heat trail in a series.
The Nuggets cruised to a 104-93 victory over Miami in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday night.
The Nuggets held a lead for nearly the entire contest, never trailing after the 8:56 mark of the first quarter, as they improved to 9-0 at home this postseason. It was Denver's first ever NBA Finals game, and the franchise is now just three wins away from its first championship.
“That was one of my last messages to the group before our game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters postgame via The Associated Press. "I reminded our group, if they didn’t know, that Miami went into Milwaukee and won Game 1. They went into the Garden in New York City and won Game 1. They won Game 1 up in Boston. So, we did not want them coming in here taking control of the series on our court."
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The No. 8-seeded Heat had taken Game 1 in each of their previous three playoff series, but were doomed by cold shooting against Denver. Miami, which entered the Finals shooting 47.2% from the field and 39 percent from 3 in the playoffs, connected on just 18 of 48 field goal attempts (37.5%) and 4 of 17 3-point shots (23.5%) in the first half. Max Strus and Caleb Martin were a combined 0-for-12 from field, with Strus missing all six of his 3s.
Denver, meanwhile, shot nearly 60 percent in the opening 24 minutes. Jamal Murray's 18 points and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic's 10 points and 10 assists powered Denver to a 17-point halftime advantage.
The Heat would only get as close as nine late in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 24.
“I didn’t even look at the box score yet, but like I said, I think the disposition, the efforts were more appropriate in the second half,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But that’s not enough. It has to be for a full game, and you also have to make some plays when you’re beat.”
Jokic tallied his record-extending ninth triple-double of the postseason with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. Murray added 26 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Michael Porter Jr. (14 points), Aaron Gordon (16 points) and Bruce Brown (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Nuggets, who shot 50.6% percent overall.
“I think that's what the beauty of this team is. We have so many different weapons and so many different looks," Murray said. "You've got to guard everybody. ... Free-flowing, and it's a lot of fun.”
The Heat, who finished 40.6% from the field and 13 of 39 from 3 (33.3%), were led by Bam Adebayo's 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Jimmy Butler shot 6 of 14 for 13 points without attempting a single free throw, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. The Heat attempted just two free throws on the night compared to Denver's 20 attempts.
“We've got to attack the rim a lot more, myself included,” Butler said.
Gabe Vincent connected on 5 of 10 3-pointers en route to 19 points and five assists. Miami also got notable bench contributions from Haywood Highsmith, who scored 18 points, and Kyle Lowry, who tallied 11 points and five assists.
Strus, meanwhile, went 0-for-10 and missed all nine of his 3s. Martin was 1-for-7 with 3 points.
“It’s a long series,” Vincent said. “First to four wins. Adjustments will be made. And we will learn from this loss.”
Game 2 of the Finals is on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
